Interview Questions

2016

"I was asked about my previous jobs. What did you do? What did you achieve? What did you learn?"

Graduate, London

"I was given theoretical business situations and asked how I would react to them."

Graduate, Portsmouth

"If you were to win hundreds of millions on the lottery, what would you do with your time?"

Graduate, London

"Why was I applying to IBM? What did I think were the three qualities a seller must have? Am I a good listener?"

Graduate, London

"My questions were specific to the outsourcing side of the business. Explain a time where you demonstrated leadership skills. Explain when you showed good teamwork. What is your biggest achievement? Why IBM? Why you and not others? What do you know about the clients we have? What do you know about who our competitors are?"

Graduate, London

"I was asked how I had met each of the competencies that IBM highlights. I was also asked about myself and my interests. What can I bring to IBM? How will IBM benefit me?"

Graduate, London

"There were general competency and scenario questions."

Graduate, London

"I was asked about the software and hardware that IBM offer."

Graduate, London/Winchester

"What experience do you have? Why do you want to work for IBM? Why do you want to work for the IT industry? Why would you be good for this role? Why should we pick you over other candidates?"

Graduate, London

"What is our current stock price? I was asked about the history of IBM and what I knew about the company and the culture. I was asked about my past experiences, what my future plans were and what I hoped IBM could give me."

Graduate, Hursley

2015

"I asked why I wanted to work in sales and for IBM, what motivates me and what gets me out of bed in the morning."

Graduate, London

"My interview consisted of questions about myself, and I had to give examples showing specific skills that IBM is looking for, as well as questions about the company."

Entry level, London/Bonn

"My interview consisted of questions on my technical background, and I also had questions on my teamwork and problem solving abilities, etc."

Graduate, Southampton

"I had to show my knowledge of IBM by knowing its current share price, and the name of the current CEO. This came alongside questions such as where I had worked before, whether I liked it, and what did I learn, and questions such as "Tell me a time when...""

Graduate, Winchester

"I was given questions about current growth initiatives at IBM and questions about risks at the company. I had to talk about my previous role, and my ability to adapt to change, and identify where the organisation can improve."

Graduate, London

"I had to show my interviewers what interested me about finance: I had applied for finance, risk and fraud, and was also asked other finance-specific questions. I had to describe a time I had to motivate someone, and show when I had to demonstrate leadership skills."

Graduate, London

"The main questions were about competencies like leadership, teamwork and organisation. The interview questions quite often mirror the application form."

Graduate, London

"The first interview I had was competency based (when have you shown adaptability, when have you successfully worked in a team, etc). The second interview was more of a chat about where my skills lie, more about what I know about the business and its environment."

Graduate, London

2014

"Interview questions included: why IBM? What does IBM do? Competency based questions and situational based questions"

Graduate, London

"My first interview was a conversation about experience and education, and it was very informal. The second interview was to establish which part of the business I would be best suited to with questions based on technical experience."

Graduate, London

"I was asked why I wanted to work at IBM and what value I felt that I could bring to the company."

Graduate, London

"Questions asked included: why do you want to work for us? Explain how Tesco gain insight to their customers through the use of a Clubcard. What can you offer to the company?"

Graduate, London

"Both my interviews were fairly relaxed. I spoke about my work experience and examples of how I had demonstrated the IBM values (which I had studied online), and there were some questions on my knowledge of the company (e.g. what do you know about IBM's past? What do you know about the structure of the grad scheme?), but for the majority of the time it just felt like a conversation."

Graduate, London

"I was asked to talk about the company's history, what my strengths were and to discuss examples of leadership, and teamwork, etc."

Graduate, London

"I was asked a lot about my previous experience, I think the interviewer was looking to hear me speak to him about what I had done in the past. I was also asked about what I knew about IBM and my service area, Global Business Services."

Our 'Inside Buzz' reviews are the comments and views of recent graduate recruits, giving you a view of what it may be like to work for an organisation. Copyright of all TARGETjobs Inside Buzz material lies solely with GTI Media.

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